DANGEROUSLY CLOSE

Documentary by Andreas Pichler / 90’/ 2024 

Twenty-five years after the reintroduction of bears in Trentino, nowhere else in the world do predators and humans live so closely together. In April 2023, 26-year-old jogger Andrea Papi was killed by a bear attack. The culprit was the problematic bear Gaia (JJ4), well-known to local foresters. She is a sister of Bruno, the bear active in Bavaria, and had previously injured a person. However, a previous order to shoot her was rescinded due to a lawsuit from animal rights activists. As the hunt for JJ4 intensifies, the debate over how to handle the bear escalates. The public demands her shooting, while animal rights activists are determined to prevent it at all costs.

Thanks to unprecedented access to the 20-member special forestry unit responsible for managing the bear population in Trentino, documentary filmmaker and Grimme Award winner Andreas Pichler tracks the impressive animals through stunning nature footage. He presents a nuanced portrayal of the coexistence between humans and bears.

Directed by Andreas Pichler
Cinematography by Daniel Mazza
Produced by MIRAMONTE FILM (IT), GEBRÜDER BEETZ (DE), BR (DE), SKY (AT), RAI 3 (IT)

International Premiere at DOK.FEST MÜNCHEN 2024 (DE)